The dentist needs a new car...

I realized today that our dentist is in the market for a new car.  I need to have around $4000 worth of dental work and Tom needs around $2000.  We have fairly good dental insurance but we will still have to pay money out of pocket.  I have to have two root canals and 2 crowns and 2 filling. Tom has to have a root canal and a couple of fillings.

Today, Tom and I went for our semi-annual cleaning and I think the girl who did mine was really mad at someone because my teeth are so sore.  I couldn't hardly eat at dinner.  I guess this is a weight-loss plan!

So, on July 13th, Tom goes for the start of his root canal and on July 19th I go for mine.  We need to starting paying for his car.

Mom's fall.

On Monday, July 5th we were going to have a quiet day at home without kids in our jammies watching TV.  I went to start lunch and saw mom laying on the deck.  I said out loud to myself "what is mom doing laying on the...oh shit mom fell."  I left the water running and headed out the door to check on her.  She was down for the count, and it took Tom and I both to get her up on her feet.  It didn't appear that she was hurt badly.  She is very sore and her right arm is really sore.  She didn't break anything but she is really sore.

My weight loss...

Since starting to lose weight around 4 months ago, I have now lost 52 lbs from my highest weight and just went to buy some new pants and was surprised that I had to buy pants that were 4 sizes smaller than before.  I feel a lot better as well, so that is good news.  But...I now have terrible "Bat Wings" under my arms and getting a droopy neck from the weight loss.  Don't know which is better - being overweight or dealing with my bat wings and droopy neck.

Fort Leonard Wood Visit

Oma, Tom and I decided that we would take a day trip on Friday, July 2.  We had to go to Eldon to check out a church that we are going to be photographing a wedding soon.  Since we were going south, we thought we would go ahead and swing down to Fort Leonard Wood (FLW) and take the tour of the post along with going to the museums, commissary, and PX. We were surprised at the things there is to see and do on the post, you could almost spend two full days here and not see it all. 

Tom was in heaven there with all the military stuff that was on display.  In fact, Oma and I left him at the museum and went to the commissary and PX while he was browsing.  This way he didn't feel rushed - because I can clear a museum in about 1/4 of the time he does. Oma and I had a blast at the commissary and PX.  We hit the clearance racks because they were an additional 25% off the already reduced prices.  I got some clothes for Alayna that started out at $5.99.  I couldn't pass that up.

After leaving the post, we headed to find a place they call "Devil's Elbow." It is a trussle bridge.  We drove a lot, and saw a lot of Waynesville but really didn't get close to the bridge.  We did see it from a look-out point, but not up close.  It is off Route 66.

We stopped in Lebanon and had dinner. I just have to remind myself that I can't eat at All-you-can-eat buffets.  I can't eat that much anymore.

We were gone about 10 hours and drove a total of 330 miles.  Had a wonderful time but was glad to be back home again.

A few new facts about Alayna...

Since it has been a little while since any of you have seen Alayna, I thought I would give you an update on our little Diva...

* She will be 7 in 20 days (where has time gone?)
* She doesn't like Strawberries in any way.
* Still loves veggies and hates potatoes. She asks for veggies instead of fries when we eat out.
* Has moved out of our house - but we have visitions every Wednesday night and every other week-end. We just don't have to pay child support but it seems like I do sometimes when I go shopping for her!!
* Has 2 new kittens. Callie and Milo are just the best little kitties in the world. They love to be loved by Alayna.
* Is getting better at swimming now that she has a nice pool at her new apartment.
* Is starting to grow on her Uncle Bubby. He has been seen playing with her in the pool.
* Is getting pretty good at wrapping grandma around her finger as well as Papa.
* Is in First grade at Summer school and loves it. She is lost without school or something to keep her busy.
* Was diagonised with ADD. Has a terrible time prioritizing her tasks - including eating and going potty.
* Loves being outside. She will come over here and spends most of the time outside.
* Is developing a love for reading. She loves to read books to people.
* Has been riding a school bus, and doesn't mind it. She thinks it is too noisy, but rides anyway.
* Has had her glasses for a year and has not lost or broke them yet. She has forgotten them several times, but not lost them.
* For her birthday this year is going to see the Kansas City Royals play baseball with the Independence Fines crew and is very excited. Said that is just what she wanted.
* Is growing up WAY to fast, but we love her anyway.
* Can't remember our life without her, she is the best thing to have around. Grandma and Papa really love her and miss her when she is not here. We hated to see her move out, we are lost!

Little House on the Prairie play with Oma

I thought I had blogged about this, but I must have done it in my sleep.  Sorry, guys.

Oma and I joined the Older Adult tours and went to Kansas City to see a play at Starlight Theatre.  First, let me clarify...I am not the older adult in the duo...you figure out the rest.  Anyway, I am not sure the trip was worth $85/each but we paid it and went.  The trip consisted of the bus ride to and from the play, dinner at Starlight, and several stop for potty breaks, AND grabby old people!!!

We left at 3 pm, and the temps were close to 100 degrees and VERY humid.  It was totally miserable.  The bus was not full so we could spread out.  I brought my IPod to listen to music and was glad I did, those women wouldn't shut up.  We stopped about 4 times before we made it to Kansas City.  It was so nice to have door side service from the bus.  We were promised that our dinner would be in an air conditioned building, but they lied.  We were in the shade and it was tolerable.  I thought the food was terrible and didn't eat a lot - not to mention - I really didn't want to get sick from the heat and a heavy meal.  They served (on a VERY HOT DAY) Thanksgiving on the Prairie.  Which meant that we had turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, green beans.  See where I am going with this?  It was way to heavy of a meal to eat at these temps.  We had a nice conversation with our table mates.  He was a retired military, and of course that is all that Oma had to hear and they started talking about military service.

The play was OK.  The first act was rather dull but the 2nd act was really good.  The lady who played Ma was Melissa Gilbert (she played Laura on TV) was really good.  The girl who played Carrie really came to life in the 2nd act.  There were several times that Melissa Gilbert had to turn her head and laugh because of the things that this girl was doing.  It really made the 2nd half entertaining.

Then we had the ride home. Dang chatty women!!! Now, realize it is almost 11 pm when we boarded the bus to come home. I have been up since 5 and it is now WAY past my bedtime and I really wanted to sleep.  Not going to happen - even with my IPod on. We arrived back in Columbia around 2 am with all of our stops for potty breaks. As we were pulling into the parking lot these ladies were all laughing that they get to sleep late and don't have to get up early.  I just wanted to knock each one in the head as I left the bus...I was suppose to be at work in 5 hours and still had to drive home.  Finally got to sleep at 3:30  and  did go in an hour late, and did OK until about 3 pm and then I went fast!! In fact Brian called me and said we talked - I don't remember...I was exhausted.

I don't think I will going on anymore of these anytime soon.  I have had my fill with old people, tour bus, bad food, and late nights.  I am just too old (I mean young) for this.